Pixar are the most consistently brilliant production company in the world with Cars their only debatable production and with concept art as stunning as this, Brave is shaping up to be another ambitious project.

Rumours of Pixar’s new title Brave have been flying around in recent months with Reece Witherspoon said to have landed the lead voice role. But courtesy of Empire we now know that the lead voice will be that of Kelly Macdonald, a relatively unknown Scottish actress whose standout role so far has been in hit TV series Boardwalk Empire.

As well as the the concept art and cast list, Empire also revealed the plot.

“The film features Kelly Macdonald as the voice of Merida, a skilled archer and the daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane).

“Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Wise Woman (voice of Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late.”

Director Mark Andrews, said of the project, “Brave’ is an epic adventure chock-full of action, humor and heart. There’s no more perfect setting for this powerful tale than the dark and rugged Scottish Highlands. Imagine: magic, mystery and danger—all set within a haunting and beautiful landscape. It’s like nothing you’ve seen before from Pixar.”

Brave is for a Summer 2012 release. Check more awesome concept art from the film below. Go Scotland!

Tags: Brave, Cartoons, Films, Kelly Macdonald, Mark Andrews, Pixar